The Physicians’ Foundation for Health Systems Excellence (PFHSE)

Beginning in May, 2008, PFHSE will send over 300,000 surveys to primary care physicians and selected medical specialists throughout the country.   The survey will be sent to virtually every active primary care physician nationwide, and to specialists in small, independent practices.   MORE...

Medicaid announces payment contingency plan

To help providers who are experiencing reduced payments because of the claims processing system that was implemented on Feb. 23, Medicaid will issue an advance payment to actively enrolled Alabama Medicaid providers whose March 7 check amount is less than 70 percent of their average Medicaid payments. The contingency payments will be systematically recouped on May 2.

Providers must request the contingency payment from the Medicaid Agency and acknowledge in writing their obligation to refund the full amount of the contingency payment to the Agency.  The request form will be available as of March 11.  

Board of Censors adopts new mission statement and strategic plan

     The Medical Association of the State of Alabama exists to serve, lead and unite physicians in promoting the highest quality of health care for the people of Alabama through advocacy, information and education.

In recent months, MASA’s Board of Censors has engaged in a strategic planning initiative to take an in-depth look at the Association, its membership make up and how well MASA is meeting the needs of its membership.  The result is the new mission statement above and goals to achieve this mission in the next few years. More...

tamper-resistant prescription features

Several States have had specific questions about whether a provider can add a feature to a prescription to make it compliant with the requirements. States have proposed various features, including particular kinds of ink to write the prescription (gel or indelible); writing out the drug quantities rather than just the number (i.e. “thirty” vs. “30”); and embossed logos. Read More....

first Deadline for tamper resistant prescription requirements is april 1

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will require one of three tamper-resistant characteristics for non-electronic Medicaid prescriptions as of April 1. More...

List of vendors with tamper-resistant pads.

AQAF contract with CMS

AQAF provides quality improvement expertise and services through
contracts with federal and state governments, as well as private
organizations. Through a contract with the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, AQAF serves as Alabama's Medicare Quality Improvement
Organization. AQAF's mission is to provide value and success through
quality improvement. For more information visit www.aqaf.com

AMA conducting Physician Practice Information survey

The American Medical Association (AMA), and more than 70 other health care professional organizations, have worked together to coordinate a comprehensive multi-specialty survey of America’s physician practices.  One particularly important section of the study pertains to practice expenses and the amounts that are attributable to you. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have indicated that the results of this study will be used to help determine physician payment. More...

Prepare for upcoming npi implementation deadline

CMS recently announced a key deadline for NPI implementation:
• May 23, 2008—This deadline applies to all public and commercial claims.

Click here for more information

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program database open to physicians

     In 2004, the Alabama Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) was created under the direction of the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to promote public health and welfare by detecting diversion, abuse, and misuse of prescripition medications classified as controlled subtances under the Alabama Uniform Controlled Sutbstances Act.
     Physicians and pharmacists may register to access the database at www.adph.org/PDMP. For assistance, contact PDMP staff at (334) 206-5226.

epocrates medsearch

MASA, in partnership with Epocrates, now offers a free on-line drug search feature to look up clinical information for more than 3,300 drugs. Learn information such as how a drug is administered, possible interactions or what generics are available. 

Drug Lookup:  

Missing Important MASA News?

Are you missing Important MASA News, like the electronic version of the Alabama MD, Leadership Letter and other Member Updates?  Please send us your name, current email address, as well as which Publications / Information you wish to receive via email, so we may update our records. 

Send email to MASA with the Subject Line of Email Update